Data capture in automatic test equipment

ABSTRACT

A method for use with automatic test equipment (ATE) having a site that holds a device under test (DUT) includes receiving data from the DUT at a first rate, storing the data in a buffer, moving the data out of the buffer at a second rate, where the second rate is greater than or equal to the first rate, and where the data is moved toward a processing device, and performing a test on the data at the processing device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates generally to capturing data from a device under test in automatic test equipment.

BACKGROUND

Automatic test equipment (ATE) is typically an automated, usually computer-driven, system for testing devices, such as semiconductors, electronic circuits, and printed circuit board assemblies. A device being tested is referred to as a device under test (DUT).

Modern ATEs support multi-site testing. ATEs that support multi-site testing include a testing device having slots, or “sites”. A device to be tested—a DUT—is inserted into each site, and the ATE performs whatever tests are necessary on the device in the site. As part of its testing, the ATE sends signals to the DUT and receives data back from the DUT. Some types of tests require that data from the DUT be available in what is essentially a continuous stream. For example, one type of bit error test requires a data capture size of 2³¹ bits. Heretofore, data capture sizes of this magnitude have been difficult to achieve.

SUMMARY

This patent application describes apparatus and methods, including computer program products, for capturing data from a DUT.

In general, in one aspect, the invention is directed to a method for use with automatic test equipment (ATE) having a site that holds a device under test (DUT). The method includes receiving data from the DUT at a first rate, storing the data in a buffer, moving the data out of the buffer at a second rate, where the second rate is greater than or equal to the first rate, and where the data is moved toward a processing device, and performing a test on the data at the processing device. This aspect may include one or more of the following features.

The ATE may include a second site that holds a second DUT, and the method may include receiving second data from the DUT at a third rate, storing the second data in a second buffer that corresponds to the second site, moving the second data out of the second buffer at a fourth rate. The fourth rate may be greater than or equal to the third rate, and the second data may be moved toward the processing device. The method may also include performing a test on the second data at the processing device. The first rate may include a sampling rate for the data, and the method may include determining the second rate based on the first rate, a number of samples of the data, and a number of channels over which data is transmitted from the DUT.

The first rate may substantially equal the second rate. The buffer may be a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer, and may have a size that is large enough to accommodate eight megasamples of data, where a sample comprises sixteen bits of data. The method may include packetizing the data before the data reaches the processing device. The data may be packetized as the data is moved out of the buffer the test may be a bit error test.

In general, in another aspect, the invention is directed to ATE that includes a site that holds a device under test (DUT), a buffer, and a controller that executes instructions to receive data from the DUT at a first rate, store the data in the buffer, and move the data out of the buffer at a second rate, where the second rate is greater than or equal to the first rate, and where the data is moved toward a processing device. The processing device performs a test on the data. This aspect may also include any one or more of the foregoing features.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is block diagram of a test system, including an ATE and a computer.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing actions performed during a site loop executed on the computer in the test system.

Like reference numerals in different figures indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for testing a device-under-test (DUT) includes a tester 12 such as automatic test equipment (ATE) or other similar testing device. To control tester 12, system 10 includes a computer 14 that interfaces with tester 12 over a hardwire connection 16. Typically, computer 14 sends commands to tester 12 that initiate the execution of routines and functions for testing a DUT. Such executing test routines may initiate the generation and transmission of test signals to the DUT and collecting responses from the DUT. Various types of DUTs may be tested by system 10 including, e.g., semiconductor devices such as an integrated circuit (IC) chip (e.g., memory chip, microprocessor, analog-to-digital converter, digital-to-analog converter, etc.).

ATE 12 includes a device interface board (DIB) 13, which is used to connect DUTs to the ATE. DIB 13 has multiple DUTs 16 a to 16 d. DUTs may be separated into multiple sites for testing using the ATE. Although only four sites are shown in FIG. 1, ATE 12 may include any number of sites. Also, in the example of FIG. 1, there is one DUT per site, however, it is not a requirement that all the sites be occupied or that all sites contain only one DUT. Each DUT may be any type of device that can be tested using an ATE, such as those noted above.

ATE 12 may include an internal processing device, such as digital signal processor (DSP) 18. Alternatively, ATE 12 may include an external processing device, such as a rack mounted digital signal processor. Alternatively, ATE may only comprise of a computer 14. DSP 18 may execute all or part of ATE software 20, i.e., computer program(s) comprised of executable code, to test the DUTs in sites 16 a to 16 d. ATE software 20 may be stored in memory (not shown) on ATE 12, or may be provided from an external processing device, such as computer 14. ATE software 20 includes an ATE software site management infrastructure 24 that manages sites 16 a to 16 d, and one or more device drivers 26 for controlling hardware on ATE 12. The hardware may include analog and/or digital instrumentation for providing signals to, and receiving signals from, pins that interface to DUTs in sites 16 a to 16 d. Separate hardware may be provided for each site or the same hardware may be programmed to interact with one or more sites.

ATE 12 also includes a buffer 29 for receiving data from a DUT in a site. In this implementation, ATE 12 includes one such buffer per site. In other implementations, however, one buffer may accommodate multiple, or all, sites. Buffer 29 may be a first-in, first-out buffer (FIFO) that receives test data from a DUT in a site. The test data may be, e.g., response(s) to signals transmitted to the DUT via ATE 12. Buffer 29 is relatively large in order to accommodate relatively large amounts of data with relatively little data loss. In this implementation, buffer 29 is able to accommodate eight megasamples of data, where a sample is sixteen bits of data. Any size buffer, however, may be used.

In some implementations, the FIFO can be small or large and still accommodate “infinite capture sizes”, i.e., streams of data that appear not to have breaks. In such implementations, the FIFO can be any size, so long as the left and right hand sides of the following equations hold true: Output data rate*number of samples≦buffer size≦input data rate*number of samples*number of channels per buffer.

That is, the output data rate of the buffer times the number of samples in the output data must be less than or equal to the buffer size, which must be less than or equal to the input data rate of the buffer times the number of samples in the input data times the number of channels per buffer. By controlling the input/output to the buffer thusly, the ATE can capture an unlimited amount of data from each DUT.

ATE 12 also includes a controller 30. Controller 30 may be hardware, a processor and/or programmable logic that controls transfer of data between ATE 12 and the DUTs in sites 16 a to 16 d. In particular, controller 30 stores data from a DUT, such as DUT 31, in buffer 29 and moves that data from buffer 29 to a destination, such as DSP 18. Controller 30 may send data unprocessed or could also packetize the data prior to transmission to its destination. Controller 30 may packetize the data before storing the data in buffer 29, after the data is moved out of buffer 29, or while the data is being moved out of buffer 29. Packetizing may include defining a packet payload from the data and adding one or more headers to the packet payload.

In some implementations, all of the functionality of controller 30 may be implemented via software executed by DSP 18.

ATE 12 is in communication with computer 14. Computer 14 may be any type of processing device including, but not limited to, a conventional personal computer (PC), a desktop device or a hand-held device, a multiprocessor computer, a microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics device, a mini-computer, a mainframe computer, and/or a personal mobile computing device. In the example of FIG. 1, computer 14 contains one or more processors, referred to simply as “processor 30”, and memory 32. Memory 32 stores software 34 that is executed by processor 30 to test DUTs in ATE 12.

Software 34 includes a test program 36 for executing tests on data received from the DUTs and a site manager 38 for communicating with hardware driver(s) 26 on ATE 12. In response to a test, data is transferred from the DUTs back to ATE 12. The data may correspond, e.g., to results of the tests, to actions taken by the DUT in response to stimuli provided by ATE 12, and/or communications from the DUT. FIG. 2 shows a process 40 by which controller 30 handles data coming from DUTs in sites 16 a to 16 d.

As shown in FIG. 2, controller 30 receives data from a DUT in a site 16 a to 16 d, and stores the data in one or more of buffers, such as buffer 29. In this implementation, there is one buffer per data channel, which may, or may not, mean one buffer per site. Assuming, for the sake of explanation, that there is one buffer per site (i.e., one site corresponds to one data channel), controller 30 stores data from site 16 a in buffer 29. Controller 30 would store data from site 16 b in buffer 29 b; site 16 c in buffer 29 c, and so on. Controller 30 receives (42) the data at a first rate, which may be dictated by the transfer rate of the DUT. Controller 30 stores (44) the received data in buffer 29. The data may be stored temporarily as buffer 29 fills or comes close to filling. At a predefined point, e.g., when buffer 29 reaches a predefined fill level, controller 30 moves (46) a block of data from buffer 29 to DSP 18. The data is moved at a second rate out of buffer 29. The first and second rate may or may not be equal depending on the transfer rate of the DUT and the transfer rate to the DSP 18. DSP 18 may analyze the data by performing one or more tests on the received data. In this example, DSP 18 may perform a bit error test on the received data. As noted above, one type of bit error test requires a data capture size of 2³¹ bits. Controller 30 moves data into, and out of, buffer 29 in order to approximate a continuous stream of 2³¹ bits.

In particular, controller 30 moves (46) data out of buffer 29 at a second rate that is about equal to, or that exceeds, the first rate. This is done in order to ensure that buffer 29 does not overflow and, as a result, lose data received from DUT 31. That is, if data from buffer 29 were removed too slowly, buffer 29 would continue to fill, eventually overflowing, which would result in data loss. In this example, the second rate is determined based on the first rate (the sample rate), a number of samples that constitute the data, and a number of channels over which data is transmitted from the DUT. The second rate may be about equal to, or more than, the sample rate of the DUT multiplied by the number of samples and by the number of channels of data being received by the buffer.

As noted above, controller 30 may packetize data received from a DUT before or after that data is stored in a buffer. As noted, packetizing may include adding headers to the data and/or organizing the data according to a particular protocol.

Process 40 may be repeated by controller 30 for each of buffers 29 b, 29 c, etc. and corresponding sites of ATE 12.

It is noted that process 40 is not limited to use with the hardware and software described above. Process 40 can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof.

Process 40 can be implemented, at least in part, via a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

Method steps associated with implementing process 40 can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform the functions of the site loops. All or part of process 40 can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) and/or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Elements of a computer include a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data.

It is noted that process 40 is not limited to use in an ATE context or to use with DSPs that perform the bit error test or a version thereof. Likewise, process 40 is not limited to use with ATEs having multiple sites, but rather can be used with any type of ATE.

Elements of different embodiments described herein may be combined to form other embodiments not specifically set forth above. Other embodiments not specifically described herein are also within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for use with automatic test equipment (ATE) having a site that holds a device under test (DUT), the method comprising: receiving data from the DUT at a first rate; storing the data in a buffer; moving the data out of the buffer at a second rate, the second rate being greater than or equal to the first rate, the data being moved toward a processing device; and performing a test on the data at the processing device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ATE comprises a second site that holds a second DUT, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving second data from the DUT at a third rate; storing the second data in a second buffer that corresponds to the second site; moving the second data out of the second buffer at a fourth rate, the fourth rate being greater than or equal to the third rate, the second data being moved toward the processing device; and performing a test on the second data at the processing device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rate comprises a sampling rate for the data, and wherein the method further comprises: determining the second rate based on the first rate, a number of samples of the data, and a number of channels over which data is transmitted from the DUT.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rate substantially equals the second rate.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the FIFO buffer has a size that is large enough to accommodate eight megasamples of data, where a sample comprises sixteen bits of data.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising packetizing the data before the data reaches the processing device.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data is packetized as the data is moved out of the buffer.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the test comprises a bit error test.
 10. Automatic test equipment (ATE) comprising: a site that holds a device under test (DUT); a buffer; and a controller that executes instructions to: receive data from the DUT at a first rate; store the data in the buffer; and move the data out of the buffer at a second rate, the second rate being greater than or equal to the first rate, the data being moved toward a processing device; wherein the processing device performs a test on the data.
 11. The ATE of claim 10, further comprising: a second site that holds a second DUT; and a second buffer; wherein the controller executes instructions to: receive second data from the DUT at a third rate; store the second data in the second buffer; and move the second data out of the second buffer at a fourth rate, the fourth rate being greater than or equal to the third rate, the second data being moved toward the processing device; wherein the processing device performs a test on the second data.
 12. The ATE of claim 10, wherein the first rate comprises a sampling rate for the data, and the second rate is based on the first rate, a number of samples of the data, and a number of channels over which data is transmitted from the DUT.
 13. The ATE of claim 10, wherein the first rate substantially equals the second rate.
 14. The ATE of claim 10, wherein the buffer comprises a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer.
 15. The ATE of claim 14, wherein the FIFO buffer has a size that is large enough to accommodate eight megasamples of data, where a sample comprises sixteen bits of data.
 16. The ATE of claim 10, wherein the controller executes instructions to packetize the data before the data reaches the processing device.
 17. The ATE of claim 16, wherein the controller packetizes the data as the data is moved out of the buffer.
 18. The ATE of claim 10, wherein the test comprises a bit error test.
 19. A testing system comprising: a testing apparatus comprising: a site that holds a device under test (DUT); a buffer; and a controller that executes instructions to: receive data from the DUT at a first rate; store the data in the buffer; and move the data out of the buffer at a second rate, the second rate being greater than or equal to the first rate; and a computing device comprising: memory to store computer code; and a processing device to execute the computer code to: receive the data; and perform a test on the data.
 20. The testing system of claim 19, wherein the first rate comprises a sampling rate for the data, and the second rate is based on the first rate, a number of samples of the data, and a number of channels over which data is transmitted from the testing system; wherein the buffer comprises a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer, and wherein the FIFO buffer has a size that is large enough to accommodate eight megasamples of data, where a sample comprises sixteen bits of data. 